Subscription product provision user management system, subscription product provision user management method, and computer program for subscription product provision user management

Abstract

To provide a subscription commodity provision user management system configured to properly manage suppliers or purchasers handling subscription commodities.SOLUTION: A management system includes: identification information initial setting means 10, 20, 30 for initially setting unique identification information to each of user terminals W1, S1, C1; connection terminal designation information generation means 13, 23, 32 for generating connection terminal designation information for designating one of the other supplier-side user terminal W1 and the other purchaser-side user terminal S1, as a connection terminal, based on the identification information; and ledger information management means 1 which manages the identification information of the user terminals and the connection terminal designation information, in association with ledger information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a subscription product provider user management system for managing a plurality of product provider users who provide subscription products through wholesale or purchase, a subscription product provider user management method, and a computer program for subscription product provider user management. [Background technology]

[0002] The applicant has already proposed a system for selling (providing) this type of subscription product (service) in the form of a patent application, which is capable of managing product information relating to subscription products in association with subscription contract information (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-67777 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] According to the proposed system, for example, it is possible to manage information exchanged between a distributor of a stockist and an end user (product information for subscription products and subscription contract information). Incidentally, when handling subscription products via wholesalers and stockists, just like general one-time sales products, there is also a demand for proper management of wholesalers and stockists.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a subscription product provider user management system, a subscription product provider user management method, and a computer program for subscription product provider user management that can properly manage wholesalers and suppliers that handle subscription products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first aspect of the present invention is A subscription product providing user management system for managing a plurality of product providing users who provide subscription products by wholesale or purchase, an identification information initial setting means for initially setting unique identification information for each of a plurality of user terminals used by the plurality of product providing users; a connection destination designation information generating means for generating connection destination designation information for designating, in each of the plurality of user terminals, either a wholesaler user terminal used by another wholesaler user or a supplier user terminal used by another supplier user as a connection destination based on the identification information; a ledger information management means for managing identification information of the user terminal and the connection destination designation information for each of the plurality of user terminals in association with ledger information; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0007] According to this, identification information is initially set for each of the wholesaler user terminal and the supplier user terminal, and when a subscription product is wholesaled or purchased, connection destination designation information is generated indicating the destination wholesaler user terminal or supplier user terminal designated as the wholesaler or supplier, and the identification information and connection destination designation information of these multiple user terminals are managed in correspondence with ledger information.Therefore, even if there are multiple product providing users who provide subscription products, such as wholesaler users (wholesalers) and supplier users (suppliers), these multiple intermediaries can be appropriately managed.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is as follows: In each of the plurality of user terminals, a wholesale setting unit is further provided for setting wholesale setting information that specifies whether or not the other user terminals can be connected as the wholesale user terminals; The ledger information management means is characterized in that it manages the wholesale setting information in association with the identification information and the ledger information.

[0009] According to this, for each of a plurality of user terminals, whether or not other user terminals can be connected as a wholesale user terminal is set as wholesale setting information, and this wholesale setting information is also managed in correspondence with ledger information, so that wholesalers who perform wholesale and dealers who only purchase can be managed separately.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is as follows: The wholesale setting means is characterized in that the wholesale setting information can be set for each subscription product provided as the connection destination.

[0011] This allows wholesale setting information to be set for each subscription product offered as a connection destination, so that product providing users can choose whether to wholesale to other businesses or sell themselves for each subscription product they offer.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is as follows: a purchase group setting means for setting a purchase group, which is a group of the plurality of user terminals and to which the purchase user terminal belongs, for each of the plurality of user terminals; The connection destination designation information generating means is characterized in that, when designating the supplier user terminal as the connection destination, it generates the connection destination designation information by allowing all other supplier user terminals to be designated or allowing only supplier user terminals belonging to the supplier group to be designated.

[0013] This makes it easier for a wholesaler user to control the distribution channel of subscription products, for example, by allowing the wholesaler user to either sell subscription products to all other purchaser users or to only purchaser users belonging to a specified purchaser group.

[0014] A second aspect of the present invention is Multiple product providing users who provide subscription products through wholesale or procurement Computer A subscription product provision user management method for managing a subscription product provision user, comprising: The computer an identification information initial setting step of initially setting unique identification information for each of a plurality of user terminals used by the plurality of product providing users; a connection destination designation information generating step of generating, in each of the plurality of user terminals, connection destination designation information for designating, as a connection destination, either a wholesaler user terminal used by another wholesaler user or a supplier user terminal used by another supplier user based on the identification information; a ledger information management step of managing, for each of the plurality of user terminals, identification information of the user terminal and the connection destination designation information in association with ledger information; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0015] This makes it possible to achieve the same effects as those of the system according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0016] A third aspect of the present invention is A computer program for managing subscription product providing users, the computer program being executed by a computer to manage a plurality of product providing users who provide subscription products by wholesale or purchase, a program for causing the device to function as an identification information initial setting means for initializing unique identification information for each of a plurality of user terminals used by the plurality of product providing users; a program for causing each of the plurality of user terminals to function as a connection destination designation information generating means for generating connection destination designation information for designating, based on the identification information, either a wholesaler user terminal used by another wholesaler user or a supplier user terminal used by another supplier user as a connection destination; a program for causing the device to function as a ledger information management means for managing, for each of the plurality of user terminals, identification information of the user terminal and the connection destination designation information in association with ledger information; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0017] This makes it possible to achieve the same effects as those of the system according to the first aspect of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, wholesalers and stockists who handle subscription products can be appropriately managed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall picture of a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an identification token ledger TL in a management system for subscription products according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating contract information in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of information exchanged in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A management system for subscription products (hereinafter referred to as the "management system") according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] [Overall view of the management system] First, the overall picture of the management system will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall picture of the management system. The management system of this embodiment is for managing so-called subscription products, which are generally based on a contractual act and in which product or service provision and charging for the product or service provision are repeated within a certain period of time. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the management system is constructed as a network system on the Internet, and in the management system, subscription products SP and associated contract information A, A' (see FIG. 3) are exchanged between an end user C and a manufacturer M, which is the subject of product provision or service provision (for example, downloading of programs or data via the Internet), via multiple middlemen W, S, and the middlemen W, S and the contract information A, A' related to the exchange are exclusively managed. In other words, the management system is provided by an operating company OM as a platform for managing the contract information A, A' exchanged between the end user C and the middleman S and between the middleman S and the wholesaler W, as well as multiple wholesalers W and multiple stockers S, which are middlemen in the intermediate transaction of the subscription product SP, and multiple end users C.

[0022] In a business transaction to which the management system of the present embodiment is applied, a subscription product SP is directly provided from a manufacturer M or a wholesaler W to an end user C, whereas a purchaser S does not generally provide a subscription product SP to an end user C. Only a contract for the purchase and sale of the subscription product SP is exchanged between the wholesaler W and the purchaser S, or between the purchaser S and the end user C. In other words, before the subscription product SP is provided to the end user C by the manufacturer M or the wholesaler W, contract information for the subscription product SP is exchanged between the manufacturer M and the wholesaler W, then contract information A for the subscription product SP is exchanged between the wholesaler W and the purchaser S, and finally contract information A' for the subscription product SP is exchanged between the purchaser S and the end user C, and as a result, the end user C receives the subscription product SP. In such a business transaction, the management system is applied as a network system suitable for managing contract information with the intermediaries W and S. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturer M, which is the entity that provides the product or service, is included, but the wholesaler W may also be the entity that provides the product or service. In this case, contract information for the subscription product SP between the manufacturer M and the wholesaler W is omitted.

[0023] The wholesaler user terminal W1 and the purchaser user terminal S1 are assigned unique terminal IDs by the identification tokens of each terminal. These terminal IDs are transmitted from each user terminal to the operation server OM1, where they are monitored and managed in the identification token ledger TL. The operation company OM mainly monitors and manages the identification token ledger TL. The functions of the operation server OM1, the wholesaler user terminal W1, and the purchaser user terminal S1 will be described below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0024] [Management system functional configuration] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the management system. As shown in FIG. 2, the management server OM1, the wholesaler user terminal W1, and the purchaser user terminal S1 are computers equipped with communication functions that can be connected to the Internet and operated. In the management server OM1, the wholesaler user terminal W1, and the purchaser user terminal S1, programs and data for making the CPU function as each means described later are mainly installed in a storage device as a storage means. Specifically, a program is installed as a web application in the wholesaler user terminal W1 and the purchaser user terminal S1, and the user terminals are connected to each other via this web application. In addition, a terminal ID unique to each terminal is initially set by an identification token, which is one function of the program, and this terminal ID is notified (transmitted) to the management server OM1. The terminal ID of each user terminal is monitored and managed by the management server OM1. In this embodiment, the terminal ID is initially set by the identification token of each user terminal, but this is not limited to this. Each user terminal W1, S1 may access the management server OM1 to call a program, etc., and the management server OM1 may centrally create and centrally manage the terminal ID. Furthermore, the identification token is not limited to being a function of the above program, but may be obtained using a separate device and notified to the operation server OM1 from each user terminal. For ease of explanation, the wholesaler user terminal W1 and the purchaser user terminal S1 are explained separately, but in this management system, each user terminal can function as the wholesaler user terminal W1 and / or the purchaser user terminal S1. In this management system, an end user C can purchase (contract for) a subscription product by accessing the purchaser user terminal S1 with an end user terminal C1 consisting of a general personal computer or smartphone operated by the end user C.

[0025] The management server OM1 has, as functions realized by a computer, a ledger information management means 1, a purchasing group setting means 2 (abbreviated as ``purchasing G setting means 2'' in the following explanation and in the figures), and a storage means 3 that stores the identification token ledger TL.

[0026] The ledger information management means 1 manages a terminal ID (identification information) (described later) uniquely assigned to each of multiple user terminals (multiple wholesale user terminals W1, multiple purchase user terminals S1) and a transaction terminal ID (connection destination designation information) to be connected to during a transaction, by associating it with an identification token ledger (ledger information) TL. The ledger information management means 1 also manages whether or not a user terminal, as a wholesale user terminal W1, can be connected to by other user terminals (wholesale setting information), by associating it with the identification token ledger TL. Details of the identification token ledger TL will be described later.

[0027] The purchaser G setting means 2 sets a purchaser group, which is a group of the multiple user terminals and to which the purchaser user terminal S1 belongs, for each of the multiple user terminals. The purchaser group may be defined by the operating company OM as a privilege and set by the purchaser G setting means 2, or may be set by the purchaser G setting means 2 based on the request of the administrator (wholesaler) of the wholesaler user terminal W1. Specifically, the purchaser G setting means 2 assigns a purchase GID to each set purchaser group and stores it in association with the terminal ID in the identification token ledger TL. Note that the purchaser G setting means 2 may not set a purchaser group for the user terminal. In this case, the user terminal does not belong to any purchaser group.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an identification token ledger TL in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. The identification token ledger TL is stored in the storage means 3. In the identification token ledger TL, a terminal ID (identification information) uniquely assigned to each user, which will be described later, is associated with user information (e.g., company information such as company name, MAC address of user terminal, etc.), wholesale permission information ("wholesale permission" in FIG. 3), wholesale target information ("wholesale target" in FIG. 3), and wholesale product information ("wholesale product" in FIG. 3) as wholesale setting information to be described later, a purchase GID set by the purchase side G setting means 2, and transaction terminal information ("transaction terminal" in FIG. 3) and connection mode information with the transaction terminal ("connection mode" in FIG. 3) as connection destination designation information to be described later.

[0029] Returning to Figure 2, when the user terminal functions as a wholesale user terminal W1, it has, as functions realized by a computer, an identification information initial setting means 10, a wholesale setting means 11, a connection permission means 12, a connection destination designation information generation means 13, and a first contract information management means 14.

[0030] The identification information initial setting means 10 initializes a unique terminal ID (identification information) based on an identification token, which is a function of a program installed in the wholesale user terminal W1. The identification information initial setting means 10 notifies (sends) the set terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The operation server OM1 is registered in an identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) by the ledger information management means 1. The terminal ID of the wholesale user terminal W1 may be issued by the operation server OM1. In detail, for example, the identification information initial setting means 10 transmits user information of the user terminal together with the terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the user information in association with the terminal ID in the identification token ledger TL as shown in FIG. 3.

[0031] The wholesale setting means 11 sets whether the user terminal can be connected to other user terminals as a wholesale user terminal based on the user's operation. This wholesale setting information can be set for each subscription product provided. Such wholesale setting information includes wholesale permission information, wholesale target information, and wholesale product information. When the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set to "OK" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3) by the wholesale setting means 11, the user terminal functions as a wholesale user terminal W1. The wholesale setting means 11 transmits such wholesale setting information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale setting information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, when the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set to "NO" by the wholesale setting means 11 ("OFF" shown in FIG. 3), the user terminal functions only as a purchase user terminal S1. That is, the wholesale user terminal W1 is a user terminal in which the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set to "permitted" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3) by the wholesale setting means 11.

[0032] In addition, the wholesale setting means 11 sets wholesale target information of the wholesale setting information that specifies other user terminals that the user terminal can connect to as the wholesale side user terminal W1. Specifically, the wholesale setting means 11 may set all other user terminals belonging to this management system as wholesale targets as the wholesale target information ("wholesale target" in FIG. 3), may set only other user terminals belonging to the purchase GID to which the user terminal belongs, or may set only specific other user terminals as wholesale targets. The wholesale setting means 11 transmits such wholesale target information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale target information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the terminal ID (BP0001) is associated with "all" (all other user terminals belonging to this management system) as the wholesale target information. On the other hand, only other user terminals belonging to the purchasing GID (G2) to which the user terminal belongs are associated with the terminal ID (BP0002) as wholesale target information. Note that in the example shown in Fig. 3, the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information for the terminal ID (BP0003) is set to "No" ("OFF" shown in Fig. 3), so no wholesale target is set ("-" shown in Fig. 3).

[0033] In addition, the wholesale setting means 11 can set wholesale product information of the wholesale setting information for each subscription product provided by the user of the user terminal (provided as a wholesale user). Specifically, the wholesale setting means 11 may set all subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal as wholesale products as the wholesale product information ("wholesale products" in FIG. 3), or may set only some subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal as wholesale products. The wholesale setting means 11 transmits such wholesale product information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale product information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the terminal ID (BP0001) is associated with "all" (all subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal) as the wholesale product information. On the other hand, the terminal ID (BP0002) is associated with only "SP1" (some subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal) as the wholesale product information. In the example shown in Figure 3, the wholesale permission information in the wholesale setting information for terminal ID (BP0003) is set to "No" ("OFF" shown in Figure 3), so no wholesale products are set ("-" shown in Figure 3).

[0034] When the connection permission means 12 receives connection permission request information from another user terminal requesting a connection as the supplier user terminal S1, the connection permission means 12 transmits connection permission information permitting a connection as the supplier user terminal S1 to the other user terminal that sent the connection permission request information, for example based on a user operation.

[0035] When designating either the wholesale user terminal W1 or the supplier user terminal S1 present in the management system as a connection destination, the connection destination designation information generating means 13 generates the terminal ID of the connection destination as connection destination designation information.

[0036] In detail, the connection destination designation information generating means 13, for example, based on a user's operation, refers to the identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) stored in the storage means 3 of the operation server OM1, designates a user terminal to be a connection destination from among other user terminals set as wholesale targets in the identification token ledger TL, and transmits connection permission request information to the designated user terminal requesting permission to connect as the wholesale user terminal W1. Then, when the connection destination designation information generating means 13 receives connection permission information permitting the connection from the other user terminal that transmitted the connection permission request information, it generates connection destination designation information indicating that the terminal ID of the other user terminal is permitted to connect as a wholesaler, and transmits the generated connection destination designation information to the operation server OM1.

[0037] The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the connection destination designation information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). In detail, the ledger information management means 1 sets the terminal ID of the other user terminal as a transaction terminal to the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information indicating that the connection is permitted as a wholesaler to the terminal ID of the other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "wholesale", and stores it in the identification token ledger. In this case, the ledger information management means 1 also sets the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information as a transaction terminal to the terminal ID of this other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "purchase", and stores it in the identification token ledger.

[0038] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the trading terminal in the connection destination designation information of terminal ID (BP0001) is set to "all," and the connection mode is set to "wholesale" and "purchasing." This indicates that terminal ID (BP0001) is permitted to connect to all user terminals in this management system in either "wholesale" or "purchasing." In addition, the trading terminal in the connection destination designation information of terminal ID (BP0002) is set to "G2," and the connection mode is set to "wholesale" and "purchasing." This indicates that terminal ID (BP0002) is permitted to connect to only the purchase side group (belonging purchase GID (G2)) to which terminal ID (BP0002) belongs in either "wholesale" or "purchasing." In addition, the trading terminal in the connection destination designation information of terminal ID (BP0003) is set to "BP0001," and the connection mode is set to "purchasing." This indicates that terminal ID (BP0003) is permitted to connect with only the user terminal with terminal ID (BP0001) for "purchase."

[0039] Returning to Figure 2, the first contract information management means 14 creates and manages (stores and updates) contract information A (first contract information) as contract information between a wholesale user W that wholesales and provides a subscription product, and a purchaser user S that purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user C, when the subscription product is traded.

[0040] Specifically, when a user terminal functioning as the wholesaler user terminal W1 receives purchase request information wishing to purchase a subscription product from a user terminal functioning as the purchaser user terminal S1 (a user terminal with a terminal ID set as a transaction terminal in the identification token ledger (see Figure 3)) designated as a connection destination in the connection destination designation information generating means 13, the user terminal functioning as the wholesaler user terminal W1 transmits information regarding subscription products that can be provided wholesale to the user terminal functioning as the purchaser user terminal S1.Then, the user terminal functioning as the wholesaler user terminal W1 receives purchase product designation information designating the subscription product desired to be purchased from the user terminal functioning as the purchaser user terminal S1.

[0041] The first contract information management means 14 creates and manages (stores and updates) contract information A (first contract information) between the wholesale user W and the purchaser user S for the subscription product specified by the purchase product designation information. The first contract information management means 14 also manages the multiple items included in the contract information A by distinguishing between changeable items and unchangeable items. The first contract information management means 14 transmits the created contract information A to a user terminal functioning as the purchaser user terminal S1 that transmitted the purchase product designation information.

[0042] Next, a case where the user terminal functions as the purchase user terminal S1 will be described. When the user terminal functions as the purchase user terminal S1, the user terminal has an identification information initial setting means 20, a wholesale setting means 21, a connection permission means 22, a connection destination designation information generating means 23, a first contract information management means 24, and a second contract information management means 25 as functions realized by a computer.

[0043] The identification information initial setting means 20 initializes a unique terminal ID (identification information) based on an identification token, which is a function of a program installed in the purchaser user terminal S1. The identification information initial setting means 20 notifies (sends) the set terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The operation server OM1 is registered in an identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) by the ledger information management means 1. The terminal ID of the purchaser user terminal S1 may be issued by the operation server OM1. In detail, for example, the identification information initial setting means 10 transmits user information of the user terminal together with the terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the user information in the identification token ledger TL in association with the terminal ID, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0044] The wholesale setting means 21 sets whether the user terminal can be connected to other user terminals as a wholesale user terminal based on the user's operation. This wholesale setting information can be set for each subscription product to be provided. In this embodiment, the user terminal functions as a purchase user terminal S1 whether the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information set by the wholesale setting means 21 is "OK" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3) or "NO" ("OFF" shown in FIG. 3). When the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set by the wholesale setting means 21 to "OK" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3), the user terminal also functions as a wholesale user terminal W1. The wholesale setting means 21 transmits such wholesale setting information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale setting information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3).

[0045] When the connection permission means 22 receives connection permission request information from another user terminal requesting a connection as the wholesale user terminal W1, it transmits connection permission information permitting a connection as the wholesale user terminal W1 to the other user terminal that sent the connection permission request information, for example based on a user operation.

[0046] When designating either the wholesale user terminal W1 or the supplier user terminal S1 present in the management system as a connection destination, the connection destination designation information generating means 23 generates the terminal ID of the connection destination as connection destination designation information.

[0047] In detail, the connection destination designation information generating means 23, for example, based on a user's operation, refers to the identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) stored in the storage means 3 of the operation server OM1, and designates a user terminal to be a connection destination from among user terminals (terminal IDs) whose wholesale permission information is "allowed" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3) and whose wholesale target information has the terminal ID of the user terminal or the affiliated purchase GID to which the terminal ID belongs, and transmits connection permission request information to the designated user terminal, requesting permission to connect as the supplier user terminal S1. Then, when the connection destination designation information generating means 23 receives connection permission information permitting connection from another user terminal that transmitted the connection permission request information, it generates connection destination designation information indicating that the terminal ID of the other user terminal is permitted to connect as a supplier, and transmits the generated connection destination designation information to the operation server OM1.

[0048] The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the connection destination designation information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). In detail, the ledger information management means 1 sets the terminal ID of the other user terminal as a transaction terminal to the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information indicating that the connection is permitted as a purchaser to the terminal ID of the other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "purchase", and stores it in the identification token ledger. In this case, the ledger information management means 1 also sets the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information as a transaction terminal to the terminal ID of this other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "wholesale", and stores it in the identification token ledger.

[0049] The first contract information management means 24 receives contract information A (first contract information) for the subscription product specified in the purchase product designation information sent to the user terminal functioning as the wholesale user terminal W1 from the user terminal functioning as the wholesale user terminal W1, and stores this contract information A in a storage means.

[0050] The second contract information management means 25 creates and manages (stores and updates) contract information A' (second contract information), which is a contract between a supplier S that has purchased a subscription product and an end user C that purchases the subscription product from the supplier S. The second contract information management means 25 manages a plurality of items included in the contract information A' by distinguishing between changeable items and unchangeable items. The second contract information management means 25 creates contract information A' by basically duplicating the same contents of the contract information A created and managed by the first contract information management means 24 for the same items, and stores the contract information A' in a storage means. As a result, in the contract information A', items corresponding to unchangeable items in the contract information A are created with the same contents as the unchangeable items. The second contract information management means 25 transmits the created contract information A' (second contract information) to an end user terminal C1 operated by the end user C.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating contract information in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the contract information A, A' includes product information (e.g., the product name of the subscription product, identification information of the subscription product, etc.) and contract content information. The contract content information is divided into changeable items (in the example shown in FIG. 4, the plan, the number of payments, etc.) and non-changeable items (in the example shown in FIG. 4, the fee, contract period, closing date, cancellation period, etc.). The changeable items are items whose contents can be changed at the purchaser user terminal S1 according to the request of the purchaser S or the end user C. On the other hand, the non-changeable items are items whose contents cannot be changed at the purchaser user terminal S1 from the contents set by the wholesaler user W (contents specified in the contract information A transmitted from the wholesaler user terminal W1).

[0052] The second contract information management means 25 updates contract information A' (contract information A' (second contract information) in the second row shown in FIG. 4), which is a copy of contract information A (contract information A (first contract information) in the first row shown in FIG. 4) sent from the wholesale user terminal W1, with the changeable items changed in response to requests from the supplier S and the end user C, and stores the information in the storage means (changed contract information A' (second contract information) in the third row shown in FIG. 4). In the example shown in FIG. 4, in the changeable items, the plan has been changed from "A" to "B", and the number of payments has been changed from "1 time / year" to "12 times / year".

[0053] When the second contract information management means 25 changes the contract content information of the contract information A' (second contract information), the first contract information management means 24 changes the items in the contract information A (first contract information) corresponding to the items in the contract content information A' that have been changed so as to be consistent with the contract information A', and stores the changed items in the storage means. The first contract information management means 24 also transmits the changed contract information A to the user terminal functioning as the wholesale user terminal W1 (the user terminal that transmitted the contract information A).

[0054] The wholesaler user terminal W1 updates the contract information A stored in the storage means to the contract information A received from the buyer user terminal S1 (the contract information A after synchronization in the fourth row shown in FIG. 4 (first contract information)). As a result, when the contract information A' is changed, the contract information A is synchronized with the changed contents.

[0055] Furthermore, when the contract information A is deleted in the wholesaler user terminal W1, for example, due to the suspension of wholesale of a subscription product, the first contract information management means 14 of the wholesaler user terminal W1 transmits deletion information of the contract information A to the buyer user terminal S1. When the first contract information management means 24 of the buyer user terminal S1 receives the deletion information, it deletes the contract information A. This makes it impossible for the second contract information management means 25 to create new contract information A'. In other words, the end user C can no longer purchase the subscription product related to the deleted contract information.

[0056] [Information flow in the management system] Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of information exchanged in the management system. As shown in Fig. 5, first, as a premise, the identification information initial setting means 20 of the purchaser user terminal S1 and the identification information initial setting means 10 of the wholesaler user terminal W1 each initially set a unique terminal ID (identification information) and notify (send) this unique terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores these received terminal IDs in the identification token ledger TL (see Fig. 3). Then, in the example shown in Fig. 5, in the identification token ledger TL, the wholesale permission information for the terminal ID of the wholesaler user terminal W1 is set to "OK" ("ON" shown in Fig. 3), and the purchaser user terminal S1 is set as a wholesale target.

[0057] Next, at the stage of connecting the supplier user terminal S1 and the wholesale user terminal W1, the connection destination designation information generating means 23 of the supplier user terminal S1 transmits connection permission request information to the wholesale user terminal W1, requesting connection as the supplier user terminal S1. When the connection permission means 12 of the wholesale user terminal W1 receives the connection permission request information, it transmits connection permission information to the supplier user terminal S1, for example, based on a user's operation. When the connection permission information is received, the connection destination designation information generating means 23 of the supplier user terminal S1 generates connection destination designation information indicating that the wholesale user terminal W1 is permitted to connect as a supplier to the terminal ID of the wholesale user terminal W1, and transmits the generated connection destination designation information to the operation server OM1. This allows the supplier user terminal S1 to be connected to the wholesale user terminal W1.

[0058] In the example shown in Figure 5, connection permission request information is sent from the supplier user terminal S1 to the wholesaler user terminal W1, but this is not limited to the above. Connection permission request information may be sent from the wholesaler user terminal W1 to the supplier user terminal S1, connection permission information may be sent from the supplier user terminal S1 to the wholesaler user terminal W1, and connection destination designation information may be sent from the wholesaler user terminal W1 to the management server OM1.

[0059] Next, in the purchase stage of the subscription product, the purchaser user terminal S1 transmits purchase request information indicating a desire to purchase the subscription product to the wholesaler user terminal W1. The wholesaler user terminal W1 transmits information on the subscription products that can be provided at wholesale to the purchaser user terminal S1. Then, the wholesaler user terminal W1 receives purchase product designation information that designates the subscription product to be purchased from the purchaser user terminal S1.

[0060] Then, the first contract information management means 14 of the wholesaler user terminal W1 creates first contract information between the wholesaler user W and the purchaser user S for the subscription product specified by the purchase product designation information, and transmits the created first contract information to the purchaser user terminal S1.

[0061] Next, in the sales (contract) stage of the subscription product, the purchaser user terminal S1 receives contract request information indicating a request for purchase (contract) of the subscription product from the end user terminal C1 operated by the end user C. The second contract information management means 25 of the purchaser user terminal S1 creates second contract information between the purchaser S who has purchased the subscription product and the end user C who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser S by duplicating the first contract information, and transmits the created second contract information to the end user terminal C1 operated by the end user C. At this time, the contract information management means 25 of the purchaser user terminal S1 updates the second contract information to the content in which the changeable items are changed in the second contract information obtained by copying the first contract information, for example, in response to the request of the end user C. In addition, the first contract information management means 24 of the purchaser user terminal S1 changes the items in the first contract information corresponding to the changed items in the second contract information so as to be consistent with the second contract information, and transmits the changed first contract information to the wholesaler user terminal W1. As a result, when the second contract information is changed, the first contract information is synchronized with the changed contents.

[0062] According to the management system of this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the following advantages.

[0063] Generally, purchasers and wholesalers who handle sell-out products conduct business transactions through processes such as the purchaser placing an order for the product they want to purchase from the wholesaler (purchaser → wholesaler), the wholesaler delivering the ordered product to the purchaser (wholesaler → purchaser), and payment for the order and delivery (purchaser → wholesaler). Each process in such a business transaction of sell-out products does not have to be performed simultaneously, but may be performed sequentially with a time lag. Furthermore, each process is basically performed face-to-face using existing communication methods such as fax and email.

[0064] On the other hand, subscription products, due to their unique nature, such as the set period of use, cannot be used to conduct commercial transactions as is using existing communication methods. In other words, the unique nature of subscription products is that, first, transactions for subscription products are accompanied by contractual matters, especially contractual matters that involve periods (e.g., payment period, service provision period), but existing systems that handle one-time sale products do not anticipate managing such contractual matters, and are therefore unable to manage them in the first place. Secondly, with subscription products, circumstances may arise where the buyer wishes to change, suspend, or cancel the contract, but existing systems that handle one-time sale products are only designed to transmit information in one direction, from the wholesaler to the purchaser, or from the purchaser to the wholesaler, and are therefore unable to handle such circumstances. Furthermore, the third peculiarity is that changes to the contract content for subscription products, such as changes, suspension, or cancellation, can occur at any time based on requests from end users, etc., and such changes must be reflected immediately on both the purchaser and wholesaler sides. However, existing systems only assume one-way, asynchronous information transmission, so such changes to the contract content cannot be synchronized in both directions.

[0065] In order to accommodate such particularities, the management system of this embodiment connects the supplier S's supplier user terminal S1 and the wholesaler W's wholesaler user terminal W1 in both directions, making it possible to synchronize the contract between the supplier S and wholesaler W (first contract information) with the contract between the supplier S and end user C (second contract information) at any time.

[0066] According to the management system of this embodiment, a unique terminal ID is initially set for each of the wholesaler user terminal W1 and the supplier user terminal S1, and the destination wholesaler user terminal W1 and supplier user terminal S1 designated as the wholesaler or supplier are connected to each other based on destination designation information including the terminal ID, and the terminal IDs and destination designation information of these multiple user terminals W1, S1 are managed in correspondence with the identification token ledger, so that wholesalers W and suppliers S can be appropriately managed as multiple product providing users who provide subscription products.

[0067] In addition, for multiple user terminals that offer subscription products, wholesale setting information is set to indicate whether they will act as both a wholesaler and a purchaser, or only as a wholesaler, and this wholesale setting information is also managed in correspondence with the identification token ledger TL, so that each user terminal can set up shop as a wholesaler or purchaser as desired.

[0068] In addition, in each of the multiple user terminals, whether or not other user terminals can be connected as the wholesale user terminal W1 is set as wholesale setting information, and this wholesale setting information is also managed in correspondence with the identification token ledger TL, so that wholesalers who wholesale and dealers who only purchase can be managed separately.

[0069] In addition, since wholesale setting information can be set for each subscription product provided as a connection destination, product providing users can choose whether to wholesale to other businesses or sell themselves for each subscription product they provide.

[0070] In addition, for example, a wholesaler user W can choose to wholesale a subscription product to all other buyer users S, or to only buyer users S belonging to a specified buyer group, making it easier to control the distribution channel of the subscription product.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the management system of this embodiment, when a subscription product is traded between the wholesaler user terminal W1 and the supplier user terminal S1, first contract information is created and managed, and when a subscription product is purchased from the end user terminal C1 for the supplier user terminal S1, second contract information is created and managed. When a specific item in the second contract information is changed between the end user terminal C1 and the supplier user terminal S1, the corresponding item in the first contract information is synchronously changed to match the specific item. Therefore, even when a wholesaler W and a supplier S trade subscription products, the first contract information and second contract information exchanged in connection therewith can be managed by appropriately synchronizing them while allowing the supplier S to modify them later.

[0072] Furthermore, since the supplier S can create the second contract information by copying the first contract information within the scope permitted by the wholesaler W, the first contract information exchanged between the wholesaler W and the supplier S and the second contract information exchanged between the supplier S and the end user C can be managed without any discrepancies.

[0073] Furthermore, in the first contract information, contract changeable items and contract non-changeable items are managed separately, and in the second contract information, specific items corresponding to the contract changeable items of the first contract information are made changeable, while items corresponding to the contract non-changeable items of the first contract information are created by duplicating them with identical content, so that the first contract information and the second contract information can be managed without discrepancies while having changeable items.

[0074] Furthermore, when a subscription product is traded between a wholesaler user terminal W1 and a supplier user terminal S1 that are permitted to connect to each other, the first contract information exchanged between them is created as synchronized information, so that the first contract information exchanged between the wholesaler W and the supplier S can be reliably managed without discrepancies.

[0075] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiment. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiment. Furthermore, it is clear from the description of the claims that forms with such modifications or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] OM Operator M Manufacturer W Wholesaler S Supplier C. End Users SP Subscription Products TL Identity Token Ledger A,A' Contract Information OM1 Management Server W1 Wholesaler user terminal S1 Purchaser user terminal C1 End-user terminal 1 Ledger information management means 2. Purchaser G setting method 3. How to change contract information 10, 20, 30 Identification information initial setting means 11,21 Wholesale setting method 12,22,31 Connection permission means 13, 23, 32 Connection destination designation information generating means 14,24 1st contract information management means 25,33 Second contract information management means

Claims

1. A subscription product providing user management system for managing a plurality of product providing users who provide subscription products by wholesale or purchase, an identification information initial setting means for initially setting unique identification information for each of a plurality of user terminals used by the plurality of product providing users; a connection destination designation information generating means for generating connection destination designation information for designating, in each of the plurality of user terminals, either a wholesaler user terminal used by another wholesaler user or a supplier user terminal used by another supplier user as a connection destination based on the identification information; a ledger information management means for managing identification information of the user terminal and the connection destination designation information for each of the plurality of user terminals in association with ledger information; A subscription product provision user management system comprising:

2. In each of the plurality of user terminals, a wholesale setting unit is further provided for setting wholesale setting information that specifies whether or not the other user terminals can be connected as the wholesale user terminals; 2. The subscription product providing user management system according to claim 1, wherein said ledger information management means manages said identification information and said wholesale setting information in association with said ledger information.

3. The subscription product providing user management system according to claim 2 , wherein the wholesale setting means is capable of setting the wholesale setting information for each subscription product provided as the connection destination.

4. a purchase group setting means for setting a purchase group, which is a group of the plurality of user terminals and to which the purchase user terminal belongs, for each of the plurality of user terminals; A subscription product provision user management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when specifying the supplier user terminal as the connection destination, the connection destination designation information generation means generates the connection destination designation information by allowing all other supplier user terminals to be designated, or by allowing only supplier user terminals belonging to the specified supplier group to be designated.

5. A subscription product providing user management method for managing a plurality of product providing users who provide subscription products by wholesale or purchase using a computer, comprising the steps of: The computer an identification information initial setting step of initially setting unique identification information for each of a plurality of user terminals used by the plurality of product providing users; a connection destination designation information generating step of generating, in each of the plurality of user terminals, connection destination designation information for designating, as a connection destination, either a wholesaler user terminal used by another wholesaler user or a supplier user terminal used by another supplier user based on the identification information; a ledger information management step of managing, for each of the plurality of user terminals, identification information of the user terminal and the connection destination designation information in association with ledger information; A subscription product provision user management method comprising:

6. A computer program for managing subscription product providing users, the computer program being executed by a computer to manage a plurality of product providing users who provide subscription products by wholesale or purchase, a program for causing the device to function as an identification information initial setting means for initializing unique identification information for each of a plurality of user terminals used by the plurality of product providing users; a program for causing each of the plurality of user terminals to function as a connection destination designation information generating means for generating connection destination designation information for designating, based on the identification information, either a wholesaler user terminal used by another wholesaler user or a supplier user terminal used by another supplier user as a connection destination; a program for causing the device to function as a ledger information management means for managing, for each of the plurality of user terminals, identification information of the user terminal and the connection destination designation information in association with ledger information; A computer program for managing users who are provided with subscription products, comprising:

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